Gabriel Cousens’ Blog

Body Toxins are Real!

Many people think that the phrase “toxins in the body” is just some jargon of food faddists. Research over the last hundred years shows that these bowel toxins actually exist. Not only do they exist, but they have a tremendous negative impact on mental and physical well-being. Toxins usually come from a process called intestinal toxemia, an overgrowth of putrefactive intestinal bacteria in the small and large intestine. These toxins are then absorbed into the blood stream and from there affect both our mental and physical functioning. Intestinal toxemia is predominantly caused by an excessively high animal protein diet. Overeating, eating late at night,and/or a slowing of bowel eliminative function directly contribute to it.Constipation also contributes a lot to this bowel toxemia. In 1933, Dr. Anthony Basler, a professor of gastroenterology, summarized his 25-year study of 5,000 cases by saying: Every physician should realize that the intestinal toxemias are the most important primary and contributing causes of many disorders and diseases of the human body. Dr. H. H. Boeker, as far back as 1923, said: “It is now universally conceded that autointoxication is the under-lying cause of an exceptionally large group of symptom complexes.”
In general, research shows that when the intestinal toxemia is removed, symptoms such as fatigue, nervousness, gastrointestinal conditions, impaired nutrition, skin manifestations, endocrine disturbances, headaches, sciatica, various forms of low back pain, allergy, eye, ear, nose, and throat congestion, and even cardiac irregularities have been healed in hundreds of cases. Excessive amounts of a chemical called indican have also been associated with sacroiliac, upper lumbar, and thoracic subluxations that do not respond to appropriate adjustments. This is not to say that reducing intestinal bacteria is the only cure for many of these diseases, but often it is an important factor that is overlooked because we consider the toxemia of our high-protein, overeating habits to be a normal state.
Some of the main bowel toxins are ammonia, indole, indican (a conjugated indole), skatole, clostridium perfringen enterotoxin, gaunidine, phenol, and high concentrations of histamine. I have found that a simple test for indican in the urine is an easy and effective way to diagnose bowel toxemia. The liver is able to detoxify some of these toxins, but when high concentrations are reached, the liver becomes overwhelmed and these toxins saturate the blood stream. Skatole and phenol cannot even be detoxified by the liver at all.
Bowel toxins have more than just a symbolic effect on the mind and nervous system. An increased concentration of ammonia in the blood, for example, increases the cerebrospinal fluid concentration. This seems to interfere with brain metabolism in some way. The results of a high cerebrospinal ammonia are evidenced by clinical reports of neurological and mental disturbances, tremors, brain wave changes, and even coma. Eleven different research laboratories on bowel toxins have reported that schizophrenics have five times more hydroxyskatole in their urine than normal people (a skatole breakdown product from bacterial putrefaction). These findings correlate with the findings of Russian researchers, who, according to Dr.Allen Cott in Fasting as a Way of Life, have had excellent success using water fasts to cure 65% of the so-called “incurable schizophrenics.” It is interesting to note that one of the main causes of relapse for these “incur-ables”was a return to high-protein, flesh food intake, which is a diet that stimulates bacterial putrefaction and intestinal toxemia. Intestinal toxemia not only has been associated with severe mental symptoms such as psychosis, but with a variety of mental imbalances. As early as 1917, Drs. Satterlee and Eldridge presented 518 cases at an American Medical Association conference that had mental symptoms which were cured by removing the intestinal toxemia. They reported symptoms of intestinal toxemia which are familiar to many people: mental sluggishness, dullness, and stupidity; loss of concentration and/or memory; mental incoordination, irritability, lack of confidence, and excessive and useless worry; exaggerated introspection, hypochondrias, and phobias; depression and melancholy; obsessions and delusions; and hallucinations, suicidal tendencies, delirium, and stupor. Senility symptoms are also common with intestinal toxemia. Fasting is one of the best and quickest treatments for bowel toxicity. I have found in my research that the urinary indican was “markedly decreased”even after a seven-day fast. Phenols, another class of bowel toxins, have also been decreased significantly by fasting. The fasting process allows the bowels to rest and the inflammation to subside. If there are no proteins on which to feed, the putrefactive bacteria will also diminish. For those who do not want to fast, excluding surgical intervention, a low-protein diet (20-30 grams of protein per day), along with a high-complex-carbohydrate, 80%raw-food diet, is a slower but effective cure.
When connected with periodic fasting, it is even more powerful. Fats should be kept to a minimum, as heated fats especially intensify the process of intestinal toxemia. Learning to eat in a way that causes no strain on the digestive system is extremely important. This means eating in a manner in which one rises from the table feeling almost as light as when one sits down. If we eat too much or too late, there is incomplete digestion and the process of putrefaction is reinforced. Adding lactobacillus acidophilus (normal large intestine bacteria) culture to the system helps to re-populate the small and large intestine with healthy bacteria, therefore diminishing putrefactive(abnormal) bacteria. Exercise also helps to stimulate the digestive system. Although many will respond to these basic aids to digestion, in the short run one may need some digestive enzymes and/or digestion-stimulating herbs to help rest and rebuild the digestive power that has been weakened after long years of abuse.

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The advice or information provided by Gabriel Cousens, M.D., M.D.(H) or any other professional experts on this site is provided for informational purposes only and cannot be considered a substitute for in-person, one-on-one professional advice. Visitors of this site should not rely solely on advice provided by medical health professionals or physician experts on this site. Dr. Cousens strongly recommends that a member seeking advice including medical, general health, mental health, counseling, diabetes support, or otherwise schedule an appointment for a one-on-one examination in person with a qualified professional. This can be done through the the support of a Tree of Life Physician. Call for more details: USA: 1-866-394-2520 (Toll-free) or International: 1-520-233-7010.